Perfect and portable for tailgating or picnicking~

Our pork shoulder is brined for 24-48 hours, depending on the size & how organized we are :-) . . . in a mixture of ½ cup of pickling salt (which dissolves in cold water), 2 quarts of water and ¾ c of molasses.

Smoke at 225 degrees over lump charcoal with some soaked hickory or apple wood chips for about 1 1/2 hours per pound. Remove from smoker, wrap in foil and let stand an hour. It should fall apart, with all the fat melted away :-)

Stem to Stern Boating Details:

Picnic Caddy, Salt & Pepper Napkin Holder/ Pottery Barn, last year

Napkins, Plates, Cups/Kohl’s, last year

Flatware & Placemats /HomeGoods, several years ago

RW&B straws/ Dollar Tree, last year

Beverage Tub/ Target, last year

However you celebrate, spend a few moments to remember and give thanks for those who serve & protect us . . .

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69 comments for “Memorial Day from Stem to Stern”

So cool, love all of the red, white and blue! That is a neat napkin holder, love that it holds the S&P too! I’m looking forward to the nice long weekend:@)

shirley@housepitalitydesigns

May 23, 2012 at 8:45 am

Mary, Mary, Mary….this is without a doubt one of my favorite posts!….The coordination of the pillows, throws, the food and all the decorations are truly destined for a magazine feature…every vignette is so beautiful….I love seeing bits and pieces of the boat…It’s beautiful…My brother had a pontoon boat when he lived in Naples…then moved “inland”…and now is searching for one again for his home in Georgia where there is a gorgeous lake…We took a beautiful boat tour on Jordan Lake on a double decker pontoon…It was very nice…but yours is luxurious…I am definitely forward this post to my sister in law….Jaw Dropping!!!…thank you…and have a wonderful weekend!!…

Atalove

May 23, 2012 at 8:45 am

Wonderful/beautiful inspiration, Mary! And lovely reminder of what Memorial Day is about. Sending you wishes for a happy summer on the lake. ~Zuni

Inspired to get my red white and blue out! Love this, great appeal to my creative side and patriotic one too! Grandkids and all adult kids will be gone but there is a pool opening for us and the love gals! That flag fruit tray is great! It will find a place on my table for sure.

We will miss boating on Memorial Day as our boat is not yet in the water, however, we return to Maine next week and the hubby is picking it up as soon as possible. I can’t wait to get back on the water and exploring Maine’s islands. Enjoy your time under bright blue sky.

Marilyn

May 23, 2012 at 11:02 am

I love all the red, white and blue! It’s both festive and patriotric. After work today, I’m getting out all my flags.

Marilyn (in Dallas)

Ellen Beeton

May 23, 2012 at 11:23 am

I agree with whoever said that this is the best post ever. I love all your red, white and blue, especially the tray of food. The dinner in the jar is ingenious! Your blog is definitely one of my favorites, mixing tablescapes with fabulous food. Thanks so much.

What a wonderful way to kick off the summer! I love the idea of the barbecue in the jars! My husband loves to smoke barbecue and that is such a unique way to serve it. Thanks so much for sharing and hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful Memorial Day!

a beach diary

May 23, 2012 at 12:45 pm

the thing about you is that your pics are seared in my brain, they are always so fresh in my memory, like they never left. i can still taste that flag…

Happy Memorial Weekend, Mary! Hope you are able to get out on the boat this year. I remember this post from last year and I am just as impressed as I was then. You are the master of coordinating everything, including the food. That flag of watermelon, feta, and blueberries is awesome.

Where to start? The watermelon salad plate is too cute, the BBQ jar is off the chain and the boat is not the slimey wormy one of my childhood. Not by a long shot. It is gorgeous decked out in RED,WHITE, AND BLUE.

Mary, I’m glad you shared this one again. It’s such fun to see how you entertain on your boat. It looks like a beautiful room. Love the idea of the cushions and pillows. I bet it’s fun to cruise the lake on this beauty. Definitely cruising in style.
Enjoy the holiday weekend! ~ Sarah

maneselaine

May 23, 2012 at 11:44 pm

Thank you so much for the gentle reminder of why we celebrate Memorial Day. I have never seen such a cozy boat! I just love the colorful quilts and patchwork pillows, flowers, and food all in the colors of our flag! Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

I am so very far behind in reading posts Mary! I apologize and I will do my best to catch up!!! I absolutely adore this post!!! Your boat is all decked out!! The Red, White, and Blue is just awesome!! Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, my husband will be at the lake celebrating and I’m holding down the fort at home with the girlz. They will probably be sporting a little bit of the Red, White and Blue too!! Have an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend Mary!!
xo Jeanne, Chloe and LadyBug

Love your post Mary, I just knew you would have something fabulous for Memorial Day, and you have outdone yourself. The fabulous red, white and blue colors, plus every detail in your decor for the boat. Then the food in the jar is such a great idea and is so showy. Thanks Mary.

Mary, sometimes when I look at your posts, I think we would have so much fun shopping together. I seem to love everything you have or have it too. The color scheme here is just wonderful, of course. I love your napkins and can’t believe I somehow missed the s&p set from PB last year. I can’t imagine a more delightful day than our your boat, enjoying that yummy food in such a beautiful setting.

onestepwoman

May 24, 2012 at 11:35 am

This is absolutely beautiful! You have a knack for bringing it all together!

As soon as I saw this at Foodie Fri. I remebered it from last year and was SO excited to see it again!!! I ADORE your pontoon boat. My SIL has one in Fl. and I LOVE to go out on it whenever we visit them. You have decorated it to perfection, it looks like it should be in a magazine layout. Southern Living: are you listening???????:):) Have a FABULOUS weekend, Mary. I hope you have perfect boating weather! XO, Pinky

It’s impossible for me to say this is the best post ever because I always (and I do mean always) love your posts. You just have a style that I love. If I WERE choosing, this would be a contender. I love all the red, white, and blue and the food looks delicious. You just have the knack!

You are endlessly creative, and I’m so in envy of your boating life. What a glorious venue for your gorgeous decorating and tablescaping talents to flourish. Wow. The soda in the blue glasses, use of vintage quilts and pillows, and the fabulously creative flag made of fruit. Thanks for sharing. Happy Memorial Weekend. ~CJ

As a fairly new blogger this is new to me and I love it. But then I love everything you do. Wow that pulled pork and goodies in the jars….well it truly IS a portable feast. And so clever. Sometimes I wish I could crawl into your brain for awhile to see all the wonderful things that go on there. I know I’d learn alot. Wonderful post Mary whether its a reprise or not. It puts me in the spirit of it all. Have a wonderful Memorial Day.

Mary, I loved this last year, and it still takes my breath away. WOW! Everything is gorgeous, and your photography is magazine worthy. How do you do it all? These photos make us all want to join you, hubby, Gracie and Chloe on the boat for a wonderful day on the lake. But we’ll settle for looking at your pictures instead. :)

I’m glad you re-posted this; it’s fun to see it again. Have a great day!

Gorgeous boat decor for this great holiday! Found you from atthepicketfence girls! I’ll be following.

Roberta Holbrook

May 28, 2012 at 3:24 pm

I am so glad I stumbled across your blog looking for info on faeries!Now I see that you have so many interests to share with all of us. I am a landlubber from Missouri but I would definitely work up my courage to go on your boat! Thanks again for all your beautiful ideas and pictures.

What an fabulous post! You really know how to throw a party and I cannot get over all of the wonderful details – the tableware, the pillows, the food – stop me or I will go on all day. Just fantastic – I want to be invited next time – lol!!

This is all totally unreal and so gorgeous. I love all of your decor and the food looks amazing. Love dinner in the jar and arranging the platter like a flag is genius. Simply outstanding. Thanks tons for joining TTT. Hugs, marty

I love the BBQ in a jar! My daughter is an Ole Miss alum and those Oxford people sure know how to have a good time! I love that you can make your boat such a cozy spot with throws and pillows, and boy did you rock the red, white and blue! I’ve got to tell the guys they need to start brining their pork butts!
Jenna